Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it covers 436.3 acres (176.6 ha), and as of June, 2024 had over 260,000 interments.

During the American Civil War it served as a recruiting camp area for Minnesota volunteers.

In 1937, the citizens of St. Paul petitioned Congress to construct a National Cemetery in the area.

There was a tradition of placing a flag on every grave on Memorial Day, but as the cemetery grew, the staff was forced to stop.

[2] George John Weiss Jr Recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal and Founder of the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad The cemetery contains one British Commonwealth war grave, of a Royal Canadian Air Force airman of World War II.